Organizer chest

ABSTRACT

An organizer chest with a plurality of rows of compartments for convenient use by a workman to hold tools and a wide variety of separate items; the chest is composed of a plurality of externally accessible rows of compartments peripherally arranged about the chest with separate compartment cover panels covering the various rows of compartments and wherein the chest includes guide tracks along the edges of each compartment at the chest surface to accommodate sliding movement of the cover panels to selectively open and close the compartments.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable organizer chest for use by aworkman to hold tools and other items in any of a plurality of separatecompartments so that like or related items are not mixed in one largepile or mass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many times it is required that workmen have a rather wide variety ofseparate items conveniently available when during their work, forexample, when making rounds in a large building for maintenancepurposes. This invention is of an organizer chest which can be carriedfrom place to place; and further, at a particular job, it may beutilized for example by a workman on a stepladder. The invention isshown in two embodiments, one a relatively small organizer chest and theother a relatively larger oganizer chest. In the case of the largerembodiment, it includes a drawer of compartments telescoped in a centralcore in the organizer chest which can be removed if desired.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved organizer chestfor use by workmen which is portable, adapted for convenient use at ajob site, including on a stepladder, and which is well adapted tomaintain a wide variety of miscellaneous items in an organized fashion.

In accordance with these and other objects, the instant invention willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the organizerchest;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the chest;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the organizer chest;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the chest seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 6--6 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated 7--7 ofFIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 8--8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 9--9 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an end view as indicated by the line 11--11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the chest shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view or a bottom plan view of the chest shown inFIG. 10 as indicated by the lines 13--13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 14--14 of FIG. 12 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 15--15 of FIG. 12 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 16--16 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by thelines 17--17 in FIG. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 18 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 18--18 in FIG. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 19 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 19--19 in FIG. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, there are two embodiments shown. The firstembodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 and 9.

Referring first to FIG. 2, there is shown a workman 12 on a ladder 14using the organizer chest 26 of the instant invention. This organizerchest is also seen in FIG. 1 in an upright attitude in which it iseasily carried by the handle 34. The chest includes a top wall 18,bottom wall 20, first and second end walls 22 and 24 and sliding sidewalls one of which is seen at 26 in FIG. 4, and the other of which isseen at 28 in FIG. 1. Preferably, the chest also includes support studssuch as 30 on the top and such as at 31 on the bottom walls, 18 and 20respectively. On the second end wall 24 there are supports 32 which aresomewhat longer than those on the top and bottom walls. These supports32 accommodate clearance for the end of the strap 36 when the chest ispositioned in an upright attitude with the second end wall being on asupport surface. On the first end wall 22, a handle 34 is provided foruse in carrying the chest as indicated in FIG. 1. The strap serves as asling 36 for use as shown in FIG. 2. Within the chest there are aplurality of separate compartments each for a different item to be usedby the workman. The compartments are arranged in rows one beneath thetop wall, one beneath he bottom wall and one beneath each of the sidewalls. In use, the workman is able to rotate the chest about itslongitudinal axis to gain access to each of the rows of compartmentsselecting which row desired.

As seen in FIG. 6, a view in cross-section taken through the chest, seeFIG. 5, the top wall 18 and the bottom wall 20 each includes a slidablewall panel 38 and 40 respectively. These are each adapted to slidelongitudinally and, as shown, and are centrally arranged with respect tothe top and bottom walls respectively, that is in the central zonebetween the slidable side walls 26 and 28. For example, the slidablewall panel 38 in the top wall 18, see FIG. 1, may be slidably moved asindicated in FIG. 6 to gain access to one or the other of thecompartments in the rows beneath it. Thus, when slide wall portion 38 ismoved in the direction of the arrow 39, see FIG. 6, then thecompartments 41 are accessible; and, similarly, when the chest has beenrotated through 180° about its longitudinal axis and the slidable wallpanel 40 is moved in the direction of the arrow 42, the compartments 43are accessible.

Referring to FIG. 9, it is seen that, to accommodate the sliding actionof the wall panels 38 and 40, a pair of confronting slide grooves 50 and52 and 54 and 56 are provided. These may be in the top and bottom wallsor in longitudinally extending septums, 58 and 60. These septums it isseen serve as floors, one for the row of compartments beneath the sidewall 26 and one for the row of compartments beneath the slide panel 28.Spanning the septums 58 and 60, there is another septum 62,perpendicular to the parallel septums 58 and 60, which extends betweenthe end walls 22 and 24 and serves as a common floor for the compartmentrows 41 and 43, see FIG. 6. From the common floor septum 62 there extendcompartment sides, such as 64 and 66, which are each of a common lengthand separate each of the rows 41 and 43 into the individual compartmentsshown. In the preferred embodiment, on each of the slidable wall panelsthere is an operator knob 71 so that it may be used as seen in FIGS. 6and 7. As indicated in FIG. 1, the side wall 28 as well as the side wall26, see FIG. 4, are slidable panels. As seen in FIG. 9, slide grooves 80and 82 and 84 and 86 are provided to accommodate sliding movement ofthese sliding side walls 26 and 28 and may be composed of longitudinallyextending pairs of confronting grooves in the top and bottom walls 18and 20. It is seen that there is one compartment 88 beneath the slidewall 28 and a plurality of compartments 90 beneath slide wall 26 in thispreferred embodiment. The compartments in each row are of a common depthbut may be separated by elements, such as 92 spaced at the zone ordifferent distances to define different sized compartments. For example,on reference to FIG. 7, it is seen that tools may be convenientlycarried in the elongate compartment 88, while smaller items such asfuses, washers, etc., may be carried in the compartments such as 90 aswell as in the row of compartments 41 and 43. It is seen that the secondend wall 24 serves as a stop means to constrain movement of the slidepanels to movement away from and toward it.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 19, a second embodiment of theorganizer chest is shown. As seen in FIG. 10, it is generally designatedby the numeral 212. It includes opposing end walls, one with an opening218 centrally arranged in it. This end wall is designated 216 and theother, an opposite end wall, is designated 214, see FIG. 11. The endwalls are spanned by side walls to be described more fully hereinafter.Within the organizer chest there is a longitudinally extending centrallylocated core bounded by a cylindrical septum 218, see FIG. 16. This coreis sized to receive a slide drawer 222 telescopically, the same beingsized for smooth passage in and out of the core. Referring moreparticularly to the outer walls of the organizer chest, it is seen thatthe end walls 214 and 216 are spanned by opposing side walls 232 and234, see Figures 10 and 12, which are generally U-shaped or composed ofelements forming the U-shaped side walls shown. These side walls, 232and 234, each have a central longitudinally extending opening, eachopening being bounded by a pair of slide tracks 236 and 238 and 240 and242. Slidably received in each of the pair of slide tracks or groovesthere is a slide panel, see 244 and 246. Preferably, each has a knobsuch as 248 to facilitate sliding movement of it. Beneath the slidepanels there is a row of compartments such as that designated by thenumerals 250 and 252 in FIG. 16. These rows of compartments each have aside defined by a septum such as 260 and 262 in the case of the row 250which together with the central septum 218 defines the row. The row inturn is separated into compartments by spacer elements such as 263. Itis thus seen that there is a central row of compartments 252, seen inFIG. 17, which is accessible when the slide panel 246 is slidably movedto expose them. Similarly, when the slide panel 244 is moved, the row ofcompartments beneath it is exposed. In the preferred embodiment, the topwall 272, see FIG. 13, is composed of elements forming what maygenerally be described as a W-shaped member. This is also true of thebottom. As seen in FIG. 16, two pairs of slide tracks 280, 282, and 284and 286 are provided in the top wall 272 as well as in the bottom wall,see 280', 282', 284' and 286'. A pair of slide panels is received ineach of the four pairs of slide tracks, two in the top wall and two inthe bottom wall as designated by the numerals 301, 303, 304 and 305.When any one of these side panels are slidably moved, a row ofcompartments is exposed beneath it, see FIG. 14. In use, it is seen thatby slidably moving any of the slide panels, the row of compartmentsbeneath it is exposed. As shown in FIG. 18, the drawer 222 is adapted tobe slidably moved into or out of telescopic positionment within thechest organizer, see FIG. 19. Preferably a handle 322 is provided topull the drawer from the organizer chest. The drawer includes end walls371 and 373, side walls 275, 277, a longitudinally extending septum 279,and at the top and bottom edges of the side walls 275 and 277 grooves asat 291 and 293 accommodate slide panels 295 and 297 which may beslidably moved to expose a row of compartments contained in the slidedrawer. The compartments may be of different sizes as determined byspacer elements such as 299. Preferably, the box is provided with feet361 so that it may be stored in an upright position if desired.Preferably, it also includes a handle 363 for carrying the box with theslide drawer in it.

In use at a work site if desired, the drawer may be removed and utilizedto do the required work. On the other hand, the organizer chest may beused separately for a similar purpose.

The two embodiments provide a highly useful organizer chest for use by aworkman at job sites as is apparent from the foregoing description.

In the first preferred embodiment the chest is about 18" in length andabout 4" thick and 8" across while in the second preferred embodimentthe chest is about 18" to 20" in length and about 8" to 10" thick andacross.

While the instant invention has been shown and described in what isconsidered to be practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognizedthat departures may be made thereform within the spirit and scope ofthis invention which is, therefore, not to be limited except as setforth in the claims hereinafter and in accordance with he doctrine ofequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable organizer chest for storage of avariety of items comprising,a first rectangular end wall and a secondrectangular end wall, said end walls being in spaced confrontingrelation, each of said end walls having a first and second pair ofparallel edges and the edges of said second pair being perpendicular tothe edges of the first pair, first and second septum means extending inparallel spaced relation with respect to one another between and inperpendicular relation to the first and second end walls, said firstseptum means being adjacent and parallel to one of said first pair ofedges and spaced inwardly therefrom and said second septum means beingadjacent and parallel to the other of said first pair of edges andspaced inwardly therefrom and said first and second septum meansdefining a space between said first and second septum means, thirdseptum means extending between and in perpendicular relation to thefirst and second end walls and in particular relation to and spanningsaid first and second septum means, a first, second, third and fourthwall means, each extending in perpendicular relation to one of the edgesof said end walls in close adjacent relation thereto, said wall meanseach including spaced track means extending between the end walls inperpendicular relation thereto, each of said wall means including aslide panel slidably captivated between the track means of each of saidwall means and in spaced relation of said septum means, said wall meansand septum means defining rows between the walls means and the septummeans extending between the end walls, and one of said slide panelsbeing in covering relation of each of said rows, stop means on saidfirst end wall to constrain sliding movement of said slide panels to acommon direction of sliding movement toward said first end wall, andspacer element means spanning said septum means and wall means to definecompartments between the spacer element means, septum means, slidepanels and wall means for containing and captivating items when theslide panels are all in covering relation of said rows for selectivemovement of a slide panel to open one of said rows.
 2. The device as setforth in claim 1 wherein the first and second wall means span the thirdand fourth wall means and said first and second wall means each includea centrally arranged spaced track means and said slide panel extendssubstantially between the third and fourth wall means.
 3. The device asset forth in claim 2 wherein the third and fourth wall means eachinclude a centrally arranged track means defining guide tracks spacedfrom one another and including said first and second wall means.
 4. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1 wherein handle means are provided on saidsecond end wall.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein supportfeet are arranged on the exterior of said organizer and on said firstend wall.
 6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of saidslide panels includes a knob for use in sliding movement thereof.
 7. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1 wherein said track means comprise groovesand each of said panel includes longitudinally extending edges sized forsliding receipt in said grooves.
 8. The device as set forth in claim 1wherein said first and said second wall means include a pair of twoparallel track means.
 9. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidseptum means defines a central recess extending from said first end wallto said second end wall and said second end wall is provided with anopening into said recess and said chest includes a drawer means, saiddrawer means being sized for slidable receipt in said central recess andsaid drawer means includes structure defining spaced compartmentstherein.
 10. The device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said drawermeans includes spaced end panels, septum means extending between the endpanels defining a row on opposite sides of said septum means, saiddrawer means having sides including guide tracks and including slidepanels covering each of said rows and slidable in said guide tracks andsaid drawer means further including spacer means separating the rowsinto a plurality of separate compartments.